The People's Catechism: Catholic Faith for Adults [Paperback]

Raymond A. Lucker (Author), Patrick J. Brennan (Author), Michael Leach (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1995

An accessible introduction to some of the major themes of Catholic faith. This volume is organized in four parts—faith, sacraments, morals, and prayer. Each section features several chapters that begin with a passage from scripture, and then offer a Catholic way of seeing the importance of the passage for Christian life today.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: The Crossroad Publishing Company (June 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824514661
• ISBN-13: 978-0824514662
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,599,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

MICHAEL LEACH is publisher emeritus and editor-at-large of Orbis Books. A leader in Catholic publishing for more than 30 years, he has edited and published more than two thousand books. His authors include Nobel Prize winners, National Book Award winners, and hundreds of Catholic Book Award winners. He has served as president of the Catholic Book Publishers Association and the ecumenical Religion Publishers Group. Before joining Orbis as publisher in 1997 Michael was president of the Crossroad/Continuum Publishing Group in New York City. Dubbed "the dean of Catholic book publishing" by U.S. Catholic magazine, he has also authored or edited several books of his own, including the bestseller I Like Being Catholic, A Maryknoll Book of Prayer, The People's Catechism, and I Like Being Married. A popular speaker at Catholic conferences nationwide, Mike lives in Connecticut with his wife of forty-one years Vickie.

"Michael Leach, the highly respected publisher of religious books... represents a last breed in American Catholic culture." - The Catholic Review, June 11, 2002

"Chances are, if you're a reader of Catholic books, you've read a book that began its life with Michael Leach... the dean of Catholic book publishing." - U.S. Catholic, November 2000

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Applies Bible Teaching To Real Life, December 8, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The People's Catechism: Catholic Faith for Adults (Paperback)

This is an intense book! I personally felt a need to read it slowly over a long period of time as there was much to savor here. The subject matter also lends itself to discussion--I think it would make a very good source text for a discussion group or a retreat.

This book, like the Catechism of the Catholic Church, is divided into 4 sections: faith, sacraments, morals, and prayer. Each of the 4 sections is written by a different author (or team of authors).

The book's 40 chapters also share a common organization--each begins with a quote from scripture, follows with an essay on the relevance of the biblical teaching in the real world, then challenges the reader to put his or her faith into action, and concludes with a section on prayer.

The choices from scripture are relevant. The essays are clear, contemporary, and meaningful. There is a strong thread throughout the text on the importance of the Christian community and the need to apply the faith to every day living.

The calls to action issue blunt challenges. For example, the reader is asked: if someone wished to persecute Christians, would they have enough evidence to convict you?

6 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't Waste Your Time, May 18, 2006

By 

Anonymous - See all my reviews

This review is from: The People's Catechism: Catholic Faith for Adults (Paperback)

This book is full of errors, some blatant, some subtle, especially about Jesus Christ himself and about Scripture. I'd give it zero stars. While there are a few parts that are ok, there are some outrageous errors in it and it contradicts or misinterprets the teaching of the Church in a number of places. You can get good information elsewhere without these errors that will lead people astray. Read the real Catechism of the Catholic Church if you want to know the faith. And PS, contrary to the claims of this or any other supposedly Catholic book, the Second Vatican Council reaffirmed in its document Dei Verbum (see section 19), what the Church has always maintained: that the gospels are historically accurate, that they really teach what Jesus did and taught. Don't be fooled!